Folding bedstead



(No Model.) 2 sh eets sheet l.

. V. A. MENUEZ.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 277,501. Patented May 15,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

VINCENT A. MENUEZ, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 277,501, dated May 15, 1883.

Application tiled March 10, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', VINCENT A. Mimunz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigan City, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bedsteads; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked there on, which form a part of this specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in folding beds, having for its object to facilitate the putting up and taking down the beds, and to enable the firm securing thereof when put up, and the compact folding. and shipment of the same; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are views taken from opposite sides of one-half of the bed in a folded position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my bed, also in a folded position. Fig. 4 is atransverse section thereof. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line yy of Fig.4.,portionsofbedbeingbrokenaway. Figs. 6,7, 8, and 9 are detail views of my bed. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modification of my bed-bottom.

In the organization of my bed I make it in two longitudinal sections or halves, A A, and mount it preferably on casters. Each bedsection consists of a half head-board, A, and a half foot-hoard, A and a side piece, A to which the former are hinged, as at a a, at their upper and lower ends, so as to permit a half head and a half foot board or piece to fold against each side piece of the bed. The half foot and half head boards are hinged together, as at b b, so as to fold inwardly upon or against each other, as seen in Fig. 3, the folding ofthe side portions against said half head and half foot hoards being also shown in this figure. Each bed-section or half consists, further, of a half slatbottom, A, hinged at its outer side edges to a side rail of eachside portion, A so as to fold downward against its side portion. The inner or meeting edges of the halfslat-bot- (No model.)

toms A are each reduced half its thickness to enable them to lap each other with their upper and lower surfaces ranging in line with each other, as seen in Fig. 4.

B B are swinging brackets having an apv bottom through coincident aperturesin the lapping surfaces of the latter, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The flanges of the brackets are of agreater height somewhat than the pins, and brace the ends of the half-bottoms, against which they lit. The half-bottoms are provided at their ends with stops or projecting plates 0, that strike or rest against the inwardly-projecting pieces or cleats, c, of the half head and half foot boards when they are folded or hang downward to prevent them swinging outward, in which event the hinges would be liable to be broken. The bed may be provided with falling sides; or, rather, the side portions themselves may be made in two longitudinal sections, the upper or larger section being hinged to the lower section at its lower edge, so as to permitit to fold downwardagainst the outside of the lower section, said upper section being also provided with books or fastenings engaging with catches or eyes on the head and foot boards.

In instances where a wide bed is desired it frequently occurs that the bottom is made of such a width as not to fold under the rail and between the legs of the head and foot boards. Consequently the said legs have to be made longer to adapt said bottom to fold as described, thus making the bed too high and giving it an odd appearance. To obviate this difficulty I make each of the halfbottoms in two parts and-hinge them together, as shown in'Fig. 10 of the drawings, thereby securing a neatandcompactlyfoldingdoublebottom. The

sections may be secured together by any suitable catch when desired to fold the bed.

The falling sides may be made with banisters, panels, slats, or spindles, or in any other fanciful manner or design.

The bed may be made in a plain or ornamental style, according to the taste and the price they are to command in the market.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a bed, the combination, with the head and foot boards or pieces and the bottom, of the brackets having pins upon their upper surface, adapted to enter the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding bed, the combination, with the head and foot boards and bottom of the VINCENT A. MENUEZ.

Witnesses:

J. T. HoPKINs, H. B. TUTHILL. 

